Astrocyte-specific Cx43-ablated mice have been shown to exhibit reduced motor performance (Frisch et al., 2003), similar to ODDD patients suffering from cerebellar ataxia; yet, astrocyte-targeted deletion of Cx43 does not affect viability or astrocyte morphology nor does it cause neurodegeneration or astrogliosis (Theis et al., 2003). This evidence concerns the gene GJA1 and oculodentodigital dysplasia.